The city of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil will this month become the latest city in the world to start operating a zero emission taxi fleet thanks to a three-way a partnership among the Rio de Janeiro City Government, Nissan in Brazil and Petrobras Distribuidora. In the first phase of the program, two100% electric Nissan LEAF taxis will be available in Rio. By the end of the year, 13 more units will be added to the fleet.

The first two Nissan LEAF taxis will be available at the Santos Dumont airport stand. Their batteries will be recharged at two Petrobras service stations at the Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon and in the Barra da Tijuca area.

Nissan LEAF taxi programs already exist in Sao Paolo, Brazil as well as Amsterdam, Mexico and Tokyo. Earlier this year, Nissan announced a Nissan LEAF taxi program for Zurich with a group of young entrepreneurs belonging to the World Economic Forum Global Shapers Community.